Orono, Maine --The nationally ranked University of Maine field hockey team is set to kick off its 2017 season with back-to-back matchups against BIG EAST Conference opponents this weekend. The Black Bears open the season on the road against Providence on Friday afternoon, and will then head back to the Pine Tree State on Sunday to face Quinnipiac in the home opener at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex.

Sunday's home opener will be a Meet the Black Bears Game, presented by Domino's. A field hockey poster giveaway and a post-game autograph session highlight the event.
 
#24 Maine vs. Providence | Watch (subscription required) | Live Stats | @UMaineFH
DATE: Friday, Aug. 25, 2017
TIME: 1 p.m.
SITE: Lennon Family Field – Providence, R.I.
SERIES HISTORY: Providence leads the all-time series 19-14-1
        Last Meeting: 2016, Maine 7-1
        First meeting: 1978, Providence 4-1
        Current streak: Maine has won each of the last three meetings since 2014
        Current trend: The Black Bears have won five of the last six meetings since 2010
        Last 10 meetings: Maine has defeated Providence in six of the last 10 games
        Longest streak: Providence won seven straight contests from 1987 to 1993
        Notes: The Friars and Black Bears have met each of the last 17 seasons and have played each         other 34 times in the last 39 seasons
 
About the #24 Maine Black Bears (0-0-0, 0-0-0 America East)
• The Black Bears return 14 letter winners from last year's squad that produced a 13-7 record including a 6-2 mark in America East play.
• Maine returns eight of its top-10 offensive leaders in points last season.
• The Black Bears' high-octane offense ranked in the top-10 nationally last season in assists per game (5th, 3.10), points per game (7th, 9.60), and goals per game (10th, 3.25).
• Maine returns all-conference selections in juniors Casey Crowley and Samantha Wagg along with sophomores Riley Field and Brianna Ricker, who landed on the all-rookie team last season. Crowley and Wagg also garnered all-region honors last season.
• Two redshirt seniors will patrol in between the pipes this season, as goalkeepers Emma
Cochran and Emily Corbett return after splitting time in net last season.
• Maine has won its last three season openers, outscoring their opponents 16-2 in that span.
• In 10 season openers under head coach Josette Babineau, Maine has outscored the opposition 25-15.
• In the NFHCA Preseason Poll, Maine landed in the 24^th spot with 107 total points
• Maine was picked to win the East Division of the America East Conference, earning 15 pts.

About the Providence Friars (0-0-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST)
• Providence looks to build off of a successful 13-6 overall record last season where the Friars qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament.
• The Friars were picked to finish fourth in the 2017 BIG EAST Conference preseason poll.
• 2016 All-BIG EAST selections senior midfielder Megan Hamilton, Megan Guilbert and Floor Rozemejier return this season for Providence.
• Guilbert led the BIG EAST and ranked eighth nationally in save percentage (.759).
• Providence Head Coach Diane Madl's field hockey coaching career began at the University of Maine in 1993. She was an assistant coach for nine seasons from 1993-2001.
 • In another Black Bear-Friar connection, Providence freshman midfielder Maddie Babineau is the niece of Maine head coach Josette Babineau
#24 Maine vs. Quinnipiac | Watch | Live Stats | @UMaineFH
DATE: Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017
TIME: Noon
SITE: UMaine Field Hockey Complex – Orono, Maine
GIVEAWAYS AND PROMOTIONS: The Meet the Black Bears Game, presented by Domino's, will feature a poster giveaway along with a post-game autograph session
SERIES HISTORY: Maine leads the all-time series 10-4
        Last meeting: 2015, Maine 4-1
        First meeting: 2000, Quinnipiac 2-1
        Current streak: Maine has won the previous six meetings in the series since 2010
        Current trend: The Black Bears have won seven of the last eight meetings
        Last 10 meetings: Maine has won seven of the last 10 matchups since 2005
        Longest streak: Maine's current streak of six is the longest in series history
        Notes: Maine and Quinnipiac renew the series in 2017 after taking a one-year hiatus last         season. The two teams have met every season since 2000, other than 2016, 2009, and 2004.
 
About the Quinnipiac Bobcats (0-0-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST)
• The Bobcats head to Orono on Sunday after taking on No.12 Boston College in Newton, Mass. on Friday night.
• Quinnipiac finished with 5-13 (3-4 BIG EAST) record last season
• The Bobcats were picked to finish sixth in the 2017 BIG EAST Conference preseason poll
• Last season, Quinnipiac led the nation in defensive saves with 20
• Senior midfielder Dana Barlow returns to the Bobcats after notching 19 points (8G, 2A) second best on the team in 2016
• Quinnipiac also returns both Livy Golini and Hannah Teicher in goal this season. Golini, a sophomore, posted .685 save percentage in her first season
 
Stay tuned to goblackbears.com and follow @UMaineFH on Twitter for the latest news and updates.
 
-UMaine-